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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Love's Justice VBT: Interview with Rachel Brimble

Welcome to my stop on the Finding Justice VBT! I'm proud to present to you an interview I had with the author, Rachel Brimble. Please help me in welcoming Rachel to the blog! Feel free to leave a comment or question.

Hi Rachel, and welcome. So glad to have you here today.

Tell me about yourself, and your writing.

I am a Brit living in South West England – I’ve been married for almost 15 years to my wonderful husband and have two young daughters (14 and 11). I am lucky enough to be able to stay at home and write full-time around the family, for which I am forever grateful. I LOVE what I do!

I am published in romantic suspense, contemporary romance, Victorian romance and romantic comedy but for now, concentrating on romantic suspense for Harlequin Superromance and Victorian romance for eKensington.

How long have you been writing? How many published books do you have?

I’ve been writing seriously for eight years but have made up stories since I was five or six. I have seven full-length novels and two novellas published, with another three novels contracted for release this year. Busy, busy, busy!

Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre?

See above – romantic suspense and Victorian romance are my focus this year, but I am considering a crime novel at some point in the future. Lord only knows when I’ll find the time to actually write it though 

Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants?

A mixture of the two – I plan each novel by an outline and character sketches for the main characters and then write the first draft from start to finish. Drafts two and three provide the chance to re-write, polish and generally whip the chaos into shape.

What is a typical writing day like for you?

During the week when the kids are at school, I am very disciplined and write from 8am-3.30pm with a dog walk in between. When the kids come home, I tackle housework, shopping or taking them where they need to be while grabbing any laptop time I can. I tend to shut the laptop down by 7pm and then it’s bath, TV and book time 

Who do you love to read? Favorite authors, favorite books?

I read everything and anything apart from paranormal – I just can’t get into it, no matter how many times I’ve tried. I love Nora Roberts, Jodi Picoult, Robyn Carr and Jean Fullerton.

What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career next year?

I feel as though I’m living the dream right now so it’s hard to say what I’d like to accomplish in the next year. I am just about to deliver the second Victorian romance in a two book contract I signed with eKensington so it would be nice if they contracted me for some follow up books. Also, I’d love to think I’d be able to sign another contract with Harlequin. Watch this space!

Tell us a little about your latest release.

Finding Justice is the first in an ongoing series with Harlequin Superromance – the books will be romantic suspense or mainstream romance set in the fictional UK seaside town of Templeton Cove. Here’s the blurb and links:

Old friends, new secrets
Sergeant Cat Forrester lives by her own set of rules. When her childhood friend is murdered, Cat's world is thrown into chaos. Especially because Jay Garrett-a man from her past-is a suspect, and he needs her help to prove he's innocent. After all they once shared, how can she say no?
The attraction flares between them, and getting involved with a suspect is a huge risk. But the more time Cat spends with Jay, the stronger the tug on her heart. He is the same caring, irresistible man she remembers. Yet she can't let her emotions interfere with the case—solving it is top priority. But as she digs deeper, she discovers Jay has secrets that may jeopardize any possible future together.
Amazon US

Barnes & Noble

Book Depository UK

What is something that you absolutely can't live without? (Other than family members)

My laptop – simple 

Could you ever co author a book with someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?

I can’t imagine co authoring a book with anyone and I admire people who can do that – I have no idea how that would work for me because my books constantly change as I’m writing. Having said that, if I receive a call from Nora Roberts at any point, I’d certainly give it a go!

Favorite color? Red

Weather: Hot or cold? Hot

Favorite place to read? Bed or outside in the sunshine

Favorite meal Chicken Satay

Favorite non-alcoholic drink. Vanilla coffee

If you could travel anywhere and do anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go?

The Caribbean is on my ‘to do’ list when the kids are older - I often fantasize about relaxing with my husband surrounded by white sand and blue sea, holding an ice-cold drink, book in hand…bliss!

Sergeant
Cat Forrester lives by her own set of rules. When her childhood
friend is murdered, Cat's world is thrown into chaos. Especially
because Jay Garrett-a man from her past-is a suspect, and he needs
her help to prove he's innocent. After all they once shared, how can
she say no?

The attraction flares
between them, and getting involved with a suspect is a huge risk. But
the more time Cat spends with Jay, the stronger the tug on her heart.
He is the same caring, irresistible man she remembers. Yet she can't
let her emotions interfere with the case-solving it is top priority.
And as she digs deeper, she discovers Jay has secrets that may
jeopardize any possible future together.

Warning: This title is
intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult
situations and language and may be considered offensive to some
readers.

EXCERPT:

I need your help, Cat. I’m in trouble. Big trouble.”

The timbre of despair in his voice alerted her to grief. Loss. She heard it loud and clear. It didn’t matter whether the speaker was male or female, young or old. When you lost someone before you should, it always sounded the same. She was trained to recognize it--personally and professionally. To listen and help. To alleviate others’ pain and hide her own. She stopped pacing and tightened her grip on the receiver.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Sarah.”

Her mind whirled back seven years ago to the last time she and her family took their annual holiday to Templeton Cove. A picturesque town situated amongst the spectacular “English Riviera” region of South West England. The place Jay and his family had lived for generations.

“Sarah? Is she okay?” Cold dread seeped into Cat’s blood, making goose bumps erupt on her arms. “Jay?”

“She’s dead, Cat. Murdered.”

She sucked in a breath as a lump of stone dropped into her abdomen. “What?”

“You need to come to the Cove. Investigate her death. The police here aren’t getting anywhere.” His shaky breath rasped down the line. “I’m a suspect, Cat. You have to help me. You have to help me show them--”

“Wait. You’re a suspect?” How could good, kind-hearted Jay Garrett be a suspect in a murder investigation? The Jay she remembered always smiled, laughed and kissed with lips that could lead a girl into all sorts of trouble…

“Please tell me you’re the detective you always swore you would be. You have to help me. I need you.”

He needs me. After all this time. “Jay, listen to me. If you’re a suspect, what happened? Cops do not go around accusing people--”

“The cops are walking around like their bloody heads are cut off. Sarah’s parents are waiting for them to release her body while the police point the finger at me rather than the real killer. I feel trapped, Cat. You’ve got to come to the Cove.”

Rachel
lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near
Bath in the UK. She started writing short stories about eight years
ago but once her children were at school, she embarked on her first
novel. It was published in 2007. Since then, she’s had several
books published with small presses as well as securing her first
contract with Harlequin Superromance in May 2012.

Represented
by US agent Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency, Rachel is a
member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of
America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head
in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her
family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South
West England. And in the evening? Well, a well-deserved glass of wine
is never, ever refused…